Ultimate '80s Superbowl Kickoff Playlist

NFL football. Six long months of preseason games, a grueling regular season, a disappointing showing in your fantasy football league (if you're like me,) and then the conference playoffs. And then the game of all games...THE SUPERBOWL!! The drama builds for two weeks leading up to the big day. And then Superbowl day comes with countless hours of pregame coverage, Superbowl commercial specials and then finally....the starting lineups and the seemingly traditional slaughtering of our national anthem.

It's here...moments away from kickoff. Snacks are huddled close-by with the anticipation of some great football, a concert halftime show, and those hilarious ads you simply can't miss. The teams are on the field, the kicker is setting up the football on the tee...TIME OUT!!...what song is playing over the p.a. system to get the thousands of fans on their feet??

Here is a playlist of '80s songs that are very worthy of a Superbowl kickoff!!

Rolling Stones "Start Me Up" (1981)

I dare say there is a better song to kickoff an NFL football game (or this list.) This is a great track that almost never made it to an album. Recorded originally in 1975, it would stay vaulted for three album releases until Tattoo You in 1981. The Stones performed this song during the Superbowl XL halftime show in 2006.

Football on Atari 2600

AC/DC "Hells Bells" (1980)

Hearing AC/DC at a football game is like hearing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" at a baseball game. I could make a case for about a half dozen tracks from the 1970s-1990s that are excellent kickoff songs. I've seen many a fan stand on their feet at the first chime of the bells at the beginning of this song.

AC/DC "You Shook Me All Night Long" (1980)

Definitely worthy of a second appearance on this list, AC/DC gave us another song on the Back in Black album that is an awesome for a Superbowl kickoff. As with most songs on this list, a few chords of the iconic intro immediately gets the "walls shaking" and "earth quaking" in football stadiums everywhere.

Van Halen "Unchained" (1981)

The intro guitar riff provided by Eddie Van Halen + David Lee Roth scream = Kickoff Greatness. The lyrics to the chorus are a great fit too, as those coverage teams often play like a junk yard dog that's broken free from his chain.

Europe "Final Countdown" (1986)

An awesome way to countdown to kickoff or any sporting event for that matter. Even though it's one of only two hits for Europe, it has been used as the exclusive entrance music for the Detroit Pistons basketball team since the "Bad Boy" era.

Joe Montana Football

Beastie Boys "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)" (1986)

Yet another song with an iconic guitar riff intro. This song fits nicely for football because of the lyrics heard right after the intro..."KICK IT!!"

Guns N Roses "Welcome To The Jungle" (1987)

In my book, probably second best to the aforementioned "Start Me Up." These kickoff songs are all about the intros and this one has one of the best! Slash lays down an excellent guitar riff with Axel Rose's signature scream.

Motley Crue "Kickstart My Heart" (1989)

The famous three chord intro that sounds like a motorcycle shifting gears, combined with the up-tempo track gives you a great start to any football game.